Culinary articles and apparatus for retrieving and/or sorting the same

Abstract

Disclosed are (i) items such as knives, forks, spoons and dishes having magnetically responsive end portions enabling the items to be retrieved and/or sorted by type by automatic apparatus, and (ii) apparatus which automatically performs such operations.

I claim: 
     
       1. A plurality of different types of culinary articles in which each type of article has a magnetically responsive protuberance of essentially circular cross section extending from an end thereof, said protuberances differing in cross-sectional sizes according to the type of article, similar type articles having protuberances of the same cross-sectional size, and the balance of each of the articles, other than the protuberance, being essentially non-magnetically responsive. 
     
     
       2. Articles according to claim 1 wherein the outer end of each said protuberance terminates in a hemisphere. 
     
     
       3. Articles according to claim 1 wherein said protuberances are generally spherical in shape. 
     
     
       4. Articles according to claim 1 wherein said articles include plates, each said plate having its said protuberance extending outwardly from the rim thereof. 
     
     
       5. Articles according to claim 1 wherein said articles include cups each with a handle thereon, each said cup having its said protuberance extending outwardly from the handle thereof. 
     
     
       6. Articles according to claim 1 wherein said articles include a. plates in which each said plate has its said protuberance extending outwardly from the rim thereof;   b. cups each with a handle thereon and in which each said cup has its said protuberance extending outwardly from the handle thereof; and   c. table silverware in which each article of table silverware has its said protuberance extending outwardly from the outer end of the handle thereof.   
     
     
       7. A plurality of different types of table silverware in which each type of article has a magnetically responsive protuberance extending outwardly from the outer end of the handle thereof, the balance of each of the articles other than the protuberance being essentially non-magnetically responsive, said protuberances differing in cross-sectional sizes according to the article, similar type articles having protuberances of the same cross-sectional size, said protuberances being further characterized (i) by being of generally symmetrical cross section, (ii) by having curved or rounded surfaces, and (iii) by being dome-shaped at their outer ends. 
     
     
       8. Articles according to claim 7 wherein said protuberances are generally spherical in shape. 
     
     
       9. Articles according to claim 7 composed predominantly of stainless steel. 
     
     
       10. Articles according to claim 7 composed predominantly of plastic material.